Sports Illustrated names Peyton Manning Sportsman of the Year

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who is on his way to a record fifth NFL Most Valuable Player award, can now put another prestigious award on his mantel: Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

As announced during NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast, Manning has been named the 2013 Sportsman of the Year as he wraps up a season in which he’s on pace to break the NFL records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a season.

In announcing Manning’s selection, Sports Illustrated noted both his outstanding 2013 season and the way he connects with football fans — and has connected with fans for two decades, since he was a college star at Tennessee.

People will inevitably freak out and talk trash in the comments on this article. Those same people won’t bother to read the lengthy SI article that goes with it, that goes WAY beyond wins, losses and stats… Instead they’ll say “9-11” or “Mr. One and Done.” They’ll miss the whole point of what a “sportsman” is and find any twisted way they can to not recognize the dude is a class act, period. Congrats to Peyton, well deserved.

cinvis says:Dec 15, 2013 11:05 PM

And to think 15 or so years ago he was assaulting a trainer, now he’s sportsman of the year. wow.

noeffinway says:Dec 15, 2013 11:06 PM

You heard it here first – Next year Suh wins this!

kd75 says:Dec 15, 2013 11:08 PM

No Jameis Winston???

it's all bs says:Dec 15, 2013 11:10 PM

Congrats……and to all the haters u know u would KILL to have him on your team…..LOL!!!!

As much attention as Manning is getting this season, I can’t help but feel like it’s still less than the hoopla over Brady and the Patriots in 2007. He’s a big deal because he has more MVP’s than anybody. Ever. And he’s going to get one more, giving him even more, more than anybody. Ever. He’s good. Stop hating.

jrebar88 says:Dec 15, 2013 11:39 PM

Why are Boston fans upset? LOL

jrebar88 says:Dec 15, 2013 11:40 PM

n2thaizzo says:
Dec 15, 2013 11:00 PM
Should’ve been David Ortiz. He meant more to sports in 2013 than Manning.
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***** Roids.

jrebar88 says:Dec 15, 2013 11:41 PM

backdapack4evr says:
Dec 15, 2013 11:02 PM
He must be really good at hunting or something because he doesn’t win important games!
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Meanwhile, Peyton has won a Super Bowl in his career.

svn2011 says:Dec 15, 2013 11:45 PM

For what ? Losing in the first round playoff game ? Why no nadal,papi or lebron ?
They give him an award for connecting with fans for 2 decades ??

He swore at his offensive line , showed off his one SB ring (in which he beat Rex Grossman) & gave away Papa John’s pizzas to say thanks.

brazzz01 says:Dec 16, 2013 12:14 AM

Ortiz, LeBron and THEN Manning in that order.

NotoriousKDV says:Dec 16, 2013 12:21 AM

Would have gone with David Ortiz myself. If Peyton had won the Super Bowl then I would get it being Peyton but he had yet another one of his classic playoff choke jobs throwing that killer INT in OT. If he wins the Super Bowl this year then they can give it to him next year. But this year it should have been Ortiz.

tsuscrumhalf says:Dec 16, 2013 12:40 AM

So……throwing a game-losing-pick in OT in the playoffs gets you this award???? Damn!

Maybe Romo is next. Wait, gotta get to the playoffs before he can be Capt 1&Done like Peyton…..

briscocountyjr says:Dec 16, 2013 12:44 AM

Dude deserves this– has had a big influence on the game for years, comes back from 4 surgeries, is on pace to break records… I get that he’s strafed a lot of teams for years, that’s the only explanation I have for vitriol we’ll read in these comments. I forgot to add that he doesn’t commit crimes, wrap his car around a pole after an empty bottle, or physically abuse his wife.

cornerstone2001 says:Dec 16, 2013 12:51 AM

He also won the award for largest head in the NFL

siknutty says:Dec 16, 2013 12:53 AM

This is well deserved.. Of course all of the manning haters show up to spew their mindless drivel. Manning is a total class act on and off the field. Seriously the guy is having a record breaking season only two years since having possibly career ending surgery. Instead of enjoying what he brings to the game you hate on him for no reason in particular. Have some class and appreciate that one of the all time greats is still on the field playing. Players of his caliber don’t come around often.

bannedfromchoirpractice says:Dec 16, 2013 1:04 AM

Could’ve been Tebow if it weren’t for his religious showboating.

Manning knows how to knock down a solid 60 million a year, including commercial endorsements.

Feels a little bit like a lifetime achievement award but it’s hard to dispute his worthiness. Peyton has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, maintained his professionalism, and has been a top notch QB throughout his career.

Why is it so hard to believe that an all-time great QB, who is having the best year ever in the most popular sport at the age of 37 wins this award? Could it have been someone else? Sure, but hard to argue he wasn’t deserving.

Sour grapes much??

majormeatcurtains says:Dec 16, 2013 4:23 AM

footballer4ever says: Dec 15, 2013 10:57 PM

What a joke! Sportdman of the year presented at halftime of an eggball game. Noone else had a chance with such a biased setting to announce such award. Lame
————————————————————
What’s lame is we don’t live in China where your butt would’ve been face down in 5 gallon water bottle.

Sportsman of the Year? What is a Sportsman? Time to retire this worthless and meaningless ‘award.’

bostoncommon says:Dec 16, 2013 7:07 AM

I had an email conversation some years back with a sportswriter for the Indy Star, about my feelings about Manning. At one point he said ‘\”I see him everyday in a way most people don’t, and the less said about that, the better.”

….Peyton Manning, who is on his way to a record fifth NFL Most Valuable Player award.

Best QB of the 2000’s!

animalkindness says:Dec 16, 2013 7:12 AM

OMG, OMG, OMG you people!!! What a bunch of haters. The guy had 4, count them 4 neck surgeries. Then goes out and plays like a real professional. I doubt that any of you could even get to your desk to write hateful comments on your computer with 1 neck surgery. Give it a rest for God’s sake.

Really? He started it off with throwing a pick in OT that sent the Ravens to the Super Bowl. His latest installment: a home loss to the lowly Chargers, negating the home field lead his team had amassed. I’m sure that he will expiate those sins against the Mighty Texans next week. But, what if he loses? Sportsman of the Year indeed!

No David Ortiz??? He truly played an inspired & inspiring year for a team that was a chicken-and-beer laughing stock for the past two years.

Unlike Manning, Ortiz didn’t skip town to play for a well-stocked franchise and then put up predictable numbers. He led his team up from the bottom to a World Championship.

animalkindness says:Dec 16, 2013 9:26 AM

Have any of you actually read the article yet??? If you read it, and I doubt you will, then you will see why PM got this award. BTW marima07–he did not skip town to play for a well-stocked franchise. Obviously you know nothing about the history of how he came to Denver, so basically you are not qualified to make this statement.

briscocountyjr says:Dec 16, 2013 9:33 AM

Dude deserves this– has had a big influence on the game for years, comes back from 4 surgeries, is on pace to break records… I get that he’s strafed a lot of teams for years, that’s the only explanation I have for vitriol we’ll read in these comments. I forgot to add that he doesn’t commit crimes, wrap his car around a pole after an empty bottle, or physically abuse his wife.

As a life long die hard O’s fan, this pains me to say, but it probably should have been Ortiz. If they were looking at it from a lifetime perspective then it should have been Mo Rivera. (again, ouch)

If Peyton happens to get the job done this year, then he would have been a great choice for next year.

jrebar88 says:Dec 16, 2013 9:41 AM

dcapettini says:
Dec 16, 2013 8:00 AM
Really? He started it off with throwing a pick in OT that sent the Ravens to the Super Bowl. His latest installment: a home loss to the lowly Chargers, negating the home field lead his team had amassed. I’m sure that he will expiate those sins against the Mighty Texans next week. But, what if he loses? Sportsman of the Year indeed!
—-

Never wouldve been in OT if Tony Carter and Rahim Moore did their jobs. Denver is still the #1 seed, re check your facts, bud.

Wow a company in the business of selling magazines picks a guy with a side business of selling everything.

Wouldn’t have been my pick, but its essentially the “Susan Lucci” lifetime achievement award. So not a big deal. But doesn’t Drew Brees have pretty much the same story, except his adverse situation actually happened last year.

I’d like to point out that David Ortiz said “F-ing” on national TV with the governor and mayor in attendance and got the FCC to say they agreed with the comments. No one else pulls that off.

jjackwagon says:Dec 16, 2013 9:43 AM

Coincidentally, SI also announced that it will have it’s first fold-out front cover on it’s Sportsman of the Year edition.

Lifetime achievement ? Sure , but 2013 Sportsman of the year ? What is SI smoking ? Lost significant games to Baltimore , NE, Indy & SD this year smh

broncfanwa says:Dec 16, 2013 12:38 PM

Wow. so nobody knows how to say “wouldn’t have been my choice, but life goes on” anymore? what is the big freakin’ deal, people, you all in third grade??? Manning has, whether you like him or not (obviously, you can tell i do) put up some impressive stats this year, and is on pace to break some records. SI is in the business of selling their magazines, and looks at the overall guy, not just their performance in their field of endeavor. i’d guess they found out some stuff about Manning that i don’t know, that you don’t know, (or don’t care) that made them choose him instead of somebody else. Maybe just because he’s been in the news so much lately, and brought so much attention to his sport. who knows? who cares? if you don’t like the choice, shrug your shoulders and move on, why is it necessary to prove to the world that you can be a bigger brat than any prima donna on the field?

animalkindness says:Dec 16, 2013 12:58 PM

Well said broncfanwa, well said. Article is great and there is much stuff I am sure nobody knows about him. About how hard he work. Well worth the read but I agree, no need to bash anybody.

I’m tired of him, and hate seeing his commercials, and root against him all the time….

but he definitely is the most remarkable sportsman this year: he came back from an entire season off for a major injury, spent a season spooling up, and now he is putting in arguably the best season of his career. It’s one of the most remarkable comebacks in NFL history and he deserves it.

Savage Lizard says:Dec 16, 2013 2:31 PM

What? The media found another way to tongue their golden child? No way! Completely unexpected.